Iran’s tourism, historical centers charming: CNN

EghtesadOnline: Iran has charming historical and tourism centers, the Cable News Network (CNN) in a report announced.

News ID: ۷۷۴۳۴۰

04 March 2017

According to IRNA, CNN released a Friday report on Iran tourism called ‘Iran's Abbasi: The Middle East's most beautiful hotel.'

“Iran is trying to modernize its tourism industry in the face of increasing visitor numbers. 5.2 million came in 2016 and more are expected in 2017. Its more traditional offerings still have the potential to charm,” the report reads.

“Isfahan has its fair share of historical wonders (some which are UNESCO World Heritage sites), but in many ways the Abbasi has become a tourist attraction in its own right.”

“Built around 300 years ago, under the Safavid dynasty reign of Shah Sultan Husayn, it was originally used as a pit stop for merchants traveling the ancient Silk Road.”

“While the US still has its sanctions in place,a situation unlikely to change under new President Donald Trump, hotel groups headquartered outside America have already started to move in.”

“The French Accor group became the first in 2016. Others are following, including the UAE's Rotana and Spain's Melia. It's expected that by 2018 Iran will have six different international brands.”

Isfahan is located on the main north–south and east–west routes crossing Iran, and was once one of the largest cities in the world. It flourished from 1050 to 1722, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries under the Safavid dynasty, when it became the capital of Persia for the second time in its history.

Isfahan is an important historical center for different groups of tourists in the domestic and international world. The central historical area in Isfahan is called Seeosepol (the name of a famous bridge).